In recent months, patients have reported problems filling nearly every type of ADHD medication prescription – and no one seems to know why W  hen th

‘The worst it’s ever been’: mysterious US Adderall shortage puts ADHD patients at risk

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2023-01-31 05:30:08

In recent months, patients have reported problems filling nearly every type of ADHD medication prescription – and no one seems to know why

W hen the last tablet of Ritalin rattled softly in the plastic vial, Faati knew that sound meant trouble. The last time, they had run out of ADHD meds for three months and struggled to remember tasks or even tell time at the Washington state cafeteria where they worked. On the day they finally got a refill, they were fired for “performance reasons”.

Erik, a 26-year-old Seattle grocery clerk, who also has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, has been unable to get his medications filled for months now – and he’s worried he’ll lose the first full-time job he’s ever had.

For people like Faati and Erik, ADHD medication is a prerequisite for basic functioning – and over the last year it’s become dramatically harder for patients like them to access care. Last October, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a shortage of Adderall, one of the most common stimulant medications for ADHD.

In recent months, patients have reported problems filling nearly every type of ADHD medication. What’s stranger is that no one seems to know why. Is it some kind of supply chain issue? A pandemic-era surge in demand? A government crackdown?

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